Avoid DIY Home Renovation Disasters

With more than 70 years of combined experience in providing home renovations to Perth area homeowners, we qualify as experts. Sadly, one of the things we have become experts on is repairing well-meaning but badly executed home renovation “disasters.” It ends up costing more to do the repairs than if they had just called us in the first place. Here’s how to avoid DIY disasters.

Get Permits

You may think a new roof or a timber deck is no big deal, but your council may view it differently. Here are a few things that you will probably need a permit to build:

Removing or adding walls in your home

Additions

Demolitions

Electrical work

Plumbing

Installing windows or doors

Building or removing a stairway

Installing new siding

New air conditioning or heating

If you build without a permit, your council will make you stop. They may make you tear down the work you already did. And, of course, they won’t mind relieving you of some of your money.

Know Your Costs

Sometimes, it seems like there must be a home improvement book that says, “Thou shalt sorely underestimate the time and materials involved in any DIY project.” Find a cost calculator at a home improvement or timber retailer near you. Then add at least 10% into your budget.